It's official: Spring arrived today.

Photo copyright Aji, 2015; all rights reserved.

Well, here, anyway.

About 8:45 this morning, to be exact.

Yeah, I know what the calendar says. It doesn't matter. Here, you know it's spring when you hear the first meadowlark of the year.

No, that's not him above. He wouldn't show himself; he just shared his song for the first time in 2015.

The one above is, apparently, the trickster who's been plaguing me for two weeks now. He lights atop the tallest latilla and sqwaks and jabbers and demands attention . . . until the camera comes out. Actually, that's not accurate: The camera coming out is fine; it's the moment I begin to focus it that he takes off in a whirl of black feathers and mocking cackles.

For some reason, he decided that it would be okay to get his photo taken today.

Okay? The bird posed. Preened. Groomed his glossy feathers, then looked up at me and turned his head, as if to say, "Did you make sure to get my profile?" After more than a dozen shots, he hopped straight up, turned, and made sure I got his other side. Not sure which he considers his "good side," But I got plenty of both. Only one here for tonight, though.




All content, including photos and text, are copyright Aji, 2015; all rights reserved. Nothing herein may used or reproduced in any form without the express written permission of the owner.